The Big Ten voted earlier this week to resume the college football season that had originally been postponed due to COVID-19.
However, there will be safety protocols and measures in place, and among them will be the requirement for athletes to wear facemarks.
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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer‘s office plans on discussing the mandate with the conference, which will be applied to sports where athletes cannot socially distance “except for occasional and fleeting moments.”
University of Michigan athletic spokesman Dave Ablouf said that Michigan athletes have been following the mandate.
“We have players that wear both face shields, the upper and new lower shield, as well as masks/neck gators during practice,” he said. “All of our coaches, staff and practice personnel wear masks/gators during practice.”
According to Whitmer’s chief legal counsel Mark Totten, the order could potentially be changed before the Big Ten football season starts on October 24.
“This development just came yesterday from the Big Ten. I think we’re certainly open to having conversations,” he said.
The order in Michigan doesn’t apply to professional athletes, and Whitmer spokesperson Tiffany Brown said that the state has reached out to the Conference regarding the potential change.
According to Brown, the state reached out to the Big Ten to “to discuss further as it may be fitting to treat the Big Ten more like professional sports — as they are very stringent and there are clear rules and guidance in place.”
– – Quotes via David Eggert of WXYZ Link – –
